Botswana undertakes Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment: A move towards a resilient health system on impacts of climate change
The assessment report, based on climate scenarios, provides evidence that Botswana is highly vulnerable to climate change. It highlights that key economic sectors will face increasing risks unless effective adaptation and mitigation measures are implemented. The report also underscores the impact of climate change on health through multiple pathways, including extreme weather events, air pollution, food insecurity, and the spread of waterborne and climate-sensitive diseases. These challenges are expected to place growing pressure on the health system, necessitating urgent action. The findings offer a critical baseline for monitoring changes in disease risks, outbreaks, and preventive measures while strengthening the understanding of the linkages between climate change and health.
These insights will play a key role in enhancing Botswana's health system by informing policies and guiding the development of the National Health Adaptation Plan (H-NAP). With seed funding from the Wellcome Trust, WHO's country office recruited a consultant to assess both current and projected climate change impacts on health, malnutrition, and disease burden in Botswana. The assessment examined direct effects, environmentally mediated impacts, and socially mediated influences using available data. It also analyzed health system vulnerabilities, adaptation capacities, and at-risk populations, with a focus on children, gender, and equity. The methodology included a desk review of data, policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) from the Ministry of Health and other key sectors. Additionally, field visits were conducted to health facilities in the selected districts, where health workers were interviewed.
On December 10, 2024, WHO provided technical and financial support to the Ministry of Health to convene key stakeholders, partners, and the Vulnerability&Adaptation (V&A) Steering Committee for a consultation and consensus-building meeting. During this session, the consultant presented the draft assessment report, and stakeholders provided comments and recommendations that further strengthened the findings. Participants included experts from academia (University of Botswana and Botswana Agricultural College), research institutions (Okavango Research Institute), and key representatives from the Ministry of Health, Department of Meteorological Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government, and Statistics Botswana. Additionally, the Red Cross and various community-based organizations (CBOs) were represented.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Botswana.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) suspends activities at Zalingei hospital following armed attack that left one dead and five injured
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been forced to reduce its teams and suspend all activities at MSF supported hospital in Central Darfur state, Sudan, following a violent armed assault inside the facility on the night of 16 August. The attack left one person dead, and injured five others, including a Ministry of Health staff member. This suspension of medical activities comes during a deadly cholera outbreak. MSF cannot resume operations until all parties provide clear security guarantees to protect staff and patients. The assault took place at Zalingei hospital on the night of 16 August, after a deceased person with a gunshot wound, reportedly from a looting incident in a nearby camp for displaced people, was brought to the emergency room around 8:20pm. Armed relatives of the deceased forcefully entered the hospital. Soon after, another patient with gunshot injuries arrived, also accompanied by armed individuals. Tensions between the groups accompanying the patients escalated inside the facility, and at 10pm, a hand grenade was detonated in front of the emergency room, killing one person. Five others were injured, including one Ministry of Health medical staff. 'One person has already lost his life in this explosion and more could have been killed if it had happened during the day, when the hospital was full of patients,' says Marwan Taher, MSF's emergency coordinator in Darfur. 'Suspending our activities and evacuating our teams is a decision no medical organization wants to make, but our staff cannot risk their lives while providing care.' Since 1 August, MSF had been leading a cholera emergency response at Zalingei hospital, treating 162 patients in just 16 days, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health. Cholera has already claimed seven lives, and Zalingei hospital is the only facility equipped to treat severe cases in Central Darfur state. MSF teams also supported the State Ministry of Health with surveillance to contain the outbreak. Beyond cholera, the hospital provided over 1,500 gynaecological consultations, 1,400 pediatric consultations, and 80 surgeries, between May and July 2025. As the only referral hospital serving around 500,000 people, it is the sole facility managing complex cases in the area. MSF's mobile clinic in Fogodiku locality and community engagement and health promotion activities has also been suspended, leaving thousands without essential care. For more than 40 years, MSF has been on the frontlines of Sudan's major crises, from disease outbreaks to malnutrition peaks, and we continue to support communities through the ongoing conflict. Protecting our medical teams is essential to ensuring they can deliver care. Already in February 2024, armed men broke into Zalingei hospital and carjacked MSF rental vehicles, forcing the temporary withdrawal of our assessment team before activities even began. The 16 August assault marks the second major security incident in Zalingei hospital in one year and a half. 'Attacks on hospitals and medical staff are unacceptable and put lives at risk,' says Taher. 'The presence of guns inside a medical facility makes it impossible for our teams to operate safely. Without clear guarantees from the concerned parties for the safety of both Ministry of Health and MSF staff, we cannot continue our work. People in Zalingei urgently need healthcare, and their access to it must be protected.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Madagascar Shows Commitment to Improving Cancer Care, with Focus on Women's Health
An international review has found that Madagascar has laid strong foundations for cancer control, expanding cervical cancer services, maintaining a health workforce and ensuring collaboration between health and radiation safety authorities. The joint imPACT review by the IAEA, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, highlighted the need to further develop oncology professionals and mobilize resources to increase access to cancer care across the country. Cancer claims more than 14 000 lives in Madagascar every year, with women more affected than men with 8 000 deaths. The country registers over 20,000 new cancer cases annually, according to 2022 IARC estimates. Incidence rates are expected to rise with increasing risk factors and an aging population. In June 2025, a team of 13 international experts nominated by the three organizations visited the main healthcare and specialized facilities in the country to conduct the imPACT review – which provides a baseline assessment of services to support Madagascar as the country develops its first comprehensive national cancer governance document. The experts held discussions with national and local health authorities, medical professionals and other stakeholders, and presented preliminary findings to the Minister of Health. 'The Malagasy government is committed to improving cancer care in the country,' Minister of Health Randriamanantany Zely Arivelo said. 'This imPACT assessment is very timely, as we will use its findings to finalize our country's first national cancer control plan.' Focus on Women's Cancers The most common cancer among women in Madagascar is cervical cancer, with a mortality rate of 30 per cent, followed by breast and colorectal cancers. In men, prostate, liver cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the most common cancers, driven by infectious diseases. The team assessed all elements that can impact cancer care in the country. These include factors such as governance, resources and regulatory frameworks for radiation safety, and components such as surveillance, referral networks, early diagnostic capacities, oncology workforce development opportunities, and readiness for advanced and expanded radiotherapy services. 'The strength of the imPACT review lies in its analysis of the entire cancer continuum,' said Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Madagascar. 'The assessment reveals a solid foundation for integrating cancer control at the community level, and the potential for an overall strengthening of health systems in terms of prevention and early diagnosis.' The review found that Madagascar has been steadfast in boosting cancer services since a previous assessment in 2015. The country has expanded cervical cancer prevention, with pre-cancerous lesion screening already available and HPV vaccination set to start in October and has undertaken important efforts to modernize and distribute imaging services. The national health system also has an established and overall qualified health workforce, with six faculties of medicine available to train specialized health professionals – particularly in surgery, a critical aspect in cancer treatment. Boosting Capacity for Cancer Care The team recommended that Madagascar continue building capacity to increase and retain human resources in oncology professionals. It also urged further strengthening of radiation safety in medicine and long-term maintenance of existing equipment in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy centres. 'Radiation safety for the protection of patients, public and staff is foundational to providing comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment,' said Vasiliki Kamenopoulou, a radiation safety specialist at the IAEA who participated in the imPACT review. 'The Malagasy government is encouraged to reinforce the legal and regulatory framework for safety and bring it in line with the IAEA safety standards.' The review noted that Madagascar should also reinforce prevention and early detection actions for other priority cancers, including working with communities for greater breast cancer awareness and boosting pathology services with additional laboratory staff, equipment and supplies. Partnerships to Expand Services Looking forward, the imPACT review recommended strategies to support Madagascar mobilize resources for cancer control, such as the development of bankable documents to facilitate loans and public-private sector partnerships. The IAEA's Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy and Rays of Hope initiative support countries in bridging gaps in cancer care through partnerships with donors, the private sector and financial institutions. Through its technical cooperation and human health programmes, the IAEA also supports countries in strengthening the quality of nuclear and radiation medicine by providing capacity building, provision of equipment, technical advice and advisory services. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Middle East Eye
13 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel kills 60 Palestinians in 24 hours, many remain under rubble
Israel has killed at least 60 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 343 others in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has said. Many victims of Israel's latest attacks remain under rubble, and ambulance and Civil Defence teams have been barred from reaching them, the ministry said. The toll includes 31 aid seekers, 197 of whom were wounded in Israeli attacks. Overall death toll from Israeli attacks since the start of the war has crossed 62,064, while 156,573 others have been wounded, the enclave's ministry said. The ministry added that since the start of the Israeli assault, 1,996 Palestinian aid seekers have been killed and more than 14,898 others have been wounded. The ministry also reported three deaths in 24 hours due to the Israeli-imposed starvation, bringing the total to 266, including 112 children.
